The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-12
LITTLE SHORTY.

1t was weeks and weeks after the sur
render of Appomattox before Cottonville
understood the full meaning of it.
At the beginning of the war it had
been our boast that Cottonville was slow
but sure. Once tangled up in the strug-
gle we did not see our way our of it, and
when the paroled veterans in gray be-
gan to struggle homeward over the old
red hills we could hardly believe that
their return signified the end of the war.
When a small detachment of federal
troops occupied the village there was
general indignation among our people.
Some of the bolder spirits were in favor
of wiping out the invaders at one fell
swoop, but the more moderate counsels
of the returned confederates prevailed
and prevented the renewal of hostilities.
One thing, however. we were all deter
mined upon, and that was to show the
miserable interiopers that Cottonville
was still loyal to the confederacy and
would submit to nothing disagreeable.
We did not find it necessary to do
anything rash. We held a few public
meetings and passed resolutions pro
claiming our devotion to the lost cause,
but that was about all.
Among the paroled confederates was
quiet, pale-faced man, who was known
far and wide as Little Shorty. One had
only to look at him to see the appropri-
ateneSs of his nickname. Little Shorty,
to the great disgust of his fellow towns
men, refused to participate in the pub
lie demonstrations. He even went so
far as to say that the true policy was to
make the best of the situation and cbey
whatever laws the Victors saw fit to pro-
mulgaIe while we were going through
the process of reconstruction.
Now, although Little Shorty was in
significant in stature, he was perhaps !
the strongest man in the country. He |
was match for any ordinary men. |
This was all that saved him at that time |
from being made the victim of an out
burst of popular indignation. There
was rough talk, OF course, and the pro-
citizens as rule ostracised him.
Little Shorty did his duty in the
war;" remarked a man one day when |
the matter was under discussion.
YES, after a fashion," replied |
Colonel Jones; but you never heard of
any of his deeds of daring. He simply
walked through the whole business and
got back home without scratch.D
Perhaps that was not his fault" said
the other. he volunteered, you know,
among the first"
That's all right" answered the
colonel, contemptuously. "If he hadn't
he would have been con
'cripted later. He was sharp enough to
have an inkling of it. and soEhe went to
The front like little man. That was no
est of his courage. Look at him now.
Is ne standing by his people? Is he
rue to the lost cause? You see what
he Is doing. He favcrs submission. he
claims that We are subjugsted people.
don't know what you think, gentle
men. but l say that his conduct IS that
II bastard and traitorl'
The words Of Colonel Jones were re-
,eated, al over the village, and natur- I
diy they tendedsso infauie public senti& y
nent still more. 1t was true that the
oienel had not been in the army. but
lis patfIots conduct ia iorganizingi a y
orch light procession when the Stats +,
eceded had ever been forgotten, end his |
eaEisesT imposition to everything that Il
AIMS nom federal source made him q
'epulsr idol.
About this time the fedeYals began to
nnoEE our people in small and petty I
rays. Frequently countryman would
ONE ts town weslng his faded gray
inform, When he made his appear
nee In some public place q soldier :
Tould halt him, and, with scarceIy a :
Terds OF explacatiUn, pull ont a knife :
nd scut the confederate buttons from | :
is coat. AS soon as the town people !
aW what was up they were careful not !
, wear the, objectionable buttons. but q
be farmers were caught every day. The =
hole proceeding was so sudden and so !,
.diculous that the countrymsn gener- >
lly found the button fends missing bv
ne time they had turned the outrage =
yer irlStheir minds.
Resistance was considered out of tho ,,
uestion. 1t was better to lose a few 3
1ttons than to be butchered. Eyery- =
ody took this view of it. ~
)urt house saw Little Shorty riding mn l.
lie street. He wore his confederste
cket, buttons and all.
Colonel Jones Winked at the bystsad- 70
8. II
Little Shorty VIII catch it." he said j.,
md serve him right, too. A man with d
s sentiments ought to have ripped off
s buttons at the surrender"
laughed, and after Little :,
lorty had hitched his horse and made q
s way to the front of the court house. &C
cry eye was fixed upon his buttons, \,
a federal lieutenant, who was aim II
ssly walking about, had his attention
tracted by the peculiar behavior of the
OVID. He looked keenly at each NAN,
10 finally his eyes looked on Little B,
lorty's buttons. r,
Everything that followed occurred in Cl
Gu Whirl that the spectators foundit tit
meult TO see what was going on. ps
With one quick stroke the lieutenant pe
I on one of Little Shorty's buttons. p